The Beasts of Areon (The Chronicles of Areon Book 2)

by Aaron J. Ethridge

  “You mean to say,” he began before pausing for a moment. “Is it possible that there are trolls that can become invisible at will?”

  “I'm not sure at will would be the best way to put it,” the sorceress replied. “I'm also not positive that the writer succeeded. However, it is possible that there are trolls that can become temporarily invisible.”

  “That's bad,” Ian observed, shaking his head as he spoke.

  “It's not good,” she agreed. “But you and I, and possibly Gwendolyn, will be able to see the magic aura that surrounds them if we concentrate. Of course, Darian will be able to see them simply because they're evil. At least, I think he will. Once they attack, they'll become visible again. The rune would work much like the spell does.”

  “It's not great news,” the dwarf replied. “But, it's better that we know. We'll just have to keep on our toes.”

  “Yes, Ian,” she nodded. “We will.”

  The watches of the night passed without incident and the dawn found the young Telian atop the battlements; gazing over the surrounding woodlands. As he stood with his eyes locked on something in the distance, the rogue approached him quietly from behind.

  “Everyone's up,” he said, stepping over to the knight and leaning against the parapet beside him. “Tealor wants us to get moving soon. Whatever we're looking for, it ain't likely to come back here again.”

  “No, it's not,” Darian replied distractedly before pointing toward the edge of the woodlands. “Do you see anything over there?”

  “What?” Kilren replied, carefully scanning the area his friend was pointing at. “Yes... I think I do.”

  “Is that a horse or a unicorn?”

  “I believe it's a unicorn,” the rogue replied. “And I believe I've seen it before.”

  “So have I,” the Telian nodded. “At least, I think I have. I spotted it yesterday.”

  “Yeah, I'm pretty sure I did, too,” Kilren agree. “Of course, we can't be sure it's the same one.”

  “No, we can't,” the knight admitted. “Though, it would be strange if these woods – which seem to contain very few animals for some reason – were filled with unicorns.”

  “That's true,” the rogue replied. “Still, I can't imagine that it's anything to worry about.”

  “Oh, no,” Darian said. “They're creatures of pure good. It's just curious, that's all.”

  “It is,” Kilren nodded. “Either way, we need to go eat and get ready to move on.”

  “Agreed.”

  Minutes later, the party had mounted and was following the road that led away from the tower to the south-west. The sorceress had explained to the entire band the possible danger of invisible enemies. Both she and Ian had cast spells that allowed them to detect magical auras as long as they concentrated. The subtlety of this particular art escaped Gwendolyn for the time being, however. After several attempts, Sarena gave it up for the day.

  “Don't worry, dear,” the sorceress said, smiling at her pupil. “It's a very basic skill and you'll learn to do it in time.”

  “If it's so basic, why am I having trouble with it?” she asked with a definite tone of frustration in her voice.

  “Any number of reasons,” Sarena replied with a light and merry laugh. “Child, you've done exceptionally well up to this point. You've learned things in days that many take years to grasp. However, you're not going to be able to cast every spell you come across within minutes. Some things may take years – even for you.”

  “I understand,” the maiden sighed. “What if I tried repeating the words exactly like you do?”

  “No,” Sarena replied shaking her head with a wide smile on her face. “As I've already told you a number of times; we're sorceresses and the words don't really matter. The words I say when I'm casting – if I say any at all – are simply those that help me focus on what I'm doing. You'll likely reach a stage in your training where all your spells sound completely different from mine.”

  “Alright,” the maiden replied. “It's just very frustrating.”

  “Well, now you know how most students of the arcane feel when they try to learn something new,” the sorceress said, laughing once again. “There's nothing to worry about. Between Darian, Ian, and myself, we're not likely to be taken by surprise.”

  Having comforted her student for her momentary failure, Sarena turned her attention to the surrounding woodlands. It was possible, at least in theory, that invisible enemies stood between the band and their eventual goal. They would have to do their very best to lessen this threat.

  However, after nearly two hours of concentrated effort, the head of the beautiful sorceress felt as if it were being ripped apart. As she sat, doing her best to ignore the continual jarring of her horse's steps, the bard approached her.

  “Dear lady,” the bard began, his voice tinted with pain, “it's never been said that Ian McFaren was a dwarf to give up without a fight. But, if I don't bring this spell to an end soon I'm afraid my skull will split.”

  “Yes,” she replied, closing her eyes and clenching her jaw for a moment. “You're right. We can't keep this up. I've never done it for more than a few minutes. I had no idea it would be such a strain.”

  “Nor did I,” the bard agreed. “It's unfortunate but, Eilian willing, Darian will be able to keep at it.”

  “I certainly hope so,” she replied, burying her head momentarily in her hands.

  “I have something for that,” Ian said, reaching down to dig through his saddle bags. “There it is. If you would, my dear, save me half.”

  The sorceress gratefully took the small vial and drank half its contents before handing the rest back to the dwarf.

  “Thank you,” he said before finishing off the remainder. “Now, let's see how Darian's holding up.”

  Having said this, he gently kicked his pony and moved to the very front of the column.

  “How are you doing, lad?” the bard asked as soon as he reached the side of the knight.

  “I'm fine,” the Telian replied with a smile.

  “Are you still concentrating on finding any enemies that might be less-than-visible?”

  “Of course,” the knight laughed. “It's not the kind of thing that's likely to slip my mind, is it?”

  “I suppose not,” the dwarf chuckled. “You're not getting a headache?”

  “Not at all,” Darian replied. “Why would I be?”

  “It's just that Sarena and I did,” the bard pointed out. “However, it seems the power the Eilian give you doesn't do the same thing. How long can you keep doing it?”

  “Trying to sense any nearby evil?” the knight asked. “As long as I'm awake and concentrating, I suppose.”

  “That's good to know because...” Ian began.

  “Shhh,” the knight said, turning his head to look into the woodlands. “There's something just south of us.”

  “What is it?” Tealor asked quietly.

  “I can't tell yet,” the Telian replied. “But it's evil. Truly evil. That's all I know. Give me a minute.”

  The young knight closed his eyes for a moment before turning his gaze in the general direction of their foe.

  “It's a troll,” Darian said after a few seconds of silence. “I can see its aura clearly and I should be able to see it through the trees, but I can't.”

  “That's unfortunate,” Tealor replied. “Apparently, some of them can become invisible.”

  “Should we attack it?” the young knight asked.

  “Not yet,” the warrior whispered. “Let's see what it does. After all, it could lead us to something more. Just keep an eye on it. If we end up in a fight, you charge that one since you can already see it.”

  “Alright,” the Telian nodded.

  The bard moved back to warn their other allies about the possibility of attack while the warrior and the knight continued to lead the band ahead. After traveling a short distance in silence the young knight spoke once again.

  “There are two more in those bushes just
up the path,” Darian asserted.

  “Well, at least they're not invisible,” Tealor replied. “They're well hidden, but I can see them both.”

  “Attack?” the knight asked.

  “We had better,” the captain replied before kicking his horse into a gallop with a cry.

  The warrior flew at the pair that sat hidden in the undergrowth a short distance ahead while the Telian turned his mount, flying at the invisible foe that had fallen a short distance behind them. The young knight leveled his lance, taking careful aim at the heart of his enemy. However, just before the weapon ripped into the beast, it stepped quickly to the side, causing the lance to strike it in the shoulder.

  The monster instantly grabbed the shaft in its clawed hand and, forcing it against the charging Telian, flung the young knight from the saddle. Darian crashed to earth, rolling along the ground with the force of the fall. The rune-covered troll wrenched the weapon from its now visible flesh. With a roar of pain and anger, it rushed at the prostrate young man.

  The warrior had fared somewhat better. Although his lace had also failed to end the life of his target, he was still atop his mount. Tealor let the weapon slip from his grasp before quickly drawing his sword. The blade the Telian had loaned him was able to slice through the hide of these creatures with ease. He would use that to his advantage.

  He glanced over his shoulder to see that his initial attack had captured both his enemies' attention. The two trolls that followed him were large, but neither of them bore the glowing runes that would protect them from the flames of his bride. That would certainly make things easier. One of the pair had a large hole in its chest thanks to the warrior's lance. He would focus his next attack on his uninjured enemy. If he could sufficiently weaken them, his wife would make short work of ending their lives.

  As soon as he had charged past her while screaming out a battle cry, Gwendolyn had locked her attention on the young knight. Her heart pounded as she saw him knocked from the saddle and scrambling to get to his feet. As she moved her mount closer to the combatants, the monster lashed out at the Telian again and again. The maiden wouldn't simply sit and watch. This time, she knew how to help. She began chanting, focusing on her desire to save the young man by ending the life of his enemy.

  Arrows and bolts quickly flew from the weapons of the ranger and the rogue. They were targeting the pair of trolls that the warrior faced. Not only was he outnumbered, but their third foe had been invisible at the start of the battle. Rragor protectively stood beside the mount of his mistress; ensuring that no enemy could approach her while Ian began reciting arcane words that seemed somewhat familiar.

  The troll that Darian faced was smaller than the others they had seen and the glowing wards that covered its body were of a deep green hue. However, these facts were of little concern to the young knight as he struggled to keep the monster from him. As his sword sliced into one of his enemy's outstretched arms, his foe struck him with the opposite hand. The talons burned the young Telian's flesh like fire as they ripped through his face. With another blow, the monster knocked the shield from his arm as the knight forced his sword through the beast's chest using the power of the Eilian that was flowing through him.

  Sarena unleashed her flames on the uninjured troll just moments before her husband flew past it; slicing into its arm with his gleaming blade. The creature bellowed in hatred before quickly lifting a stone the size of a man's head from the ground. It turned instantly and hurled the rock at the sorceress with all its might. Fortune either smiled on the beast or the stone was well aimed. It struck its target with a force that shattered bone. The warrior's wife landed on the ground some distance from her mount; broken and unconscious.

  The rogue had learned something from his bride-to-be about the art of killing trolls. He took careful aim before gently pulling the trigger. His shaft pierced the head of one of the monsters just above its left eye. They were too far away for a shot like that. He would need to get closer.

  His betrothed had also come to this conclusion; partially due to the fact that her love had just missed his shot. She kicked her mount into motion; drawing quickly nearer the face of her foe. She held her breath and let an arrow fly. It struck the monster in the forehead, directly between its eyes. In future, she intended to spend more time practicing the art of shooting from the back of a galloping horse.

  The bard's attack was more effective, if less well aimed. A stream of acid shot from his palm and struck the troll that the rogue had just shot squarely in the face. As it howled, acid dripping from its gaping maw, Ian jumped from the saddle and flew to Sarena's side. It was clear she was seriously injured. Instantly, he burst into a song that seemed to speak of peace, of rest, and of love.

  The troll that had brought the sorceress to earth had foolishly left its back turned on her infuriated husband. The warrior drove his mount forward with all the speed it could muster before striking directly at the creature's neck. The blade ripped through its flesh and black blood gushed from the wound. The captain had not, however, completely severed the monster's head. He had failed to slay the beast, but had completely succeeding in once again attracting its attention.

  The beast that Darian faced back-slapped the Telian off his feet just before it was engulfed in fire. Gwendolyn sat on her horse a short distance from the monster, her hands outstretched and chanting wildly. The beast turned its attention to the maiden. However, before it had taken its third step, the sword of the knight sliced through its leg. The maiden focused the arcane power and, once again, her foe was wrapped in flames. As soon as these subsided, the knight passed his sword through the heart of the monster. It collapsed at his feet; overcome by the courageous pair.

  The acid covered troll charged at the bard and the sorceress that lay at his feet. However, before he could reach them, Rragor valiantly attacked him. The noble animal had also learned a thing or two about dealing with trolls. If the monster took its eyes off him for a moment, the wolf would strike before instantly leaping out of reach. Of course, this could only slow his adversary, but it was enough. As soon as Sarena's wounds had been attended to she climbed to her feet. With the fury of living fire, she lashed out at her foe. In moments, the beast collapsed with smoke rising from its carcass.

  The creature that faced the warrior fared no better. The captain closed the distance between them with his shield lifted high. Time and again he struck the troll in the head while successfully blocking any counter-attack. In less than a minute, it lay at the feet of his mount in a pool of its own blood. The battle was over. Their enemies were defeated. For the moment, the party was safe.

  Chapter 10: Unusual Behavior

  Gwendolyn wanted to attend to the Telian's wounds the moment the last of their enemies had fallen. However, the knight insisted that it would wait until after the trolls had been completely destroyed. The sorceress and her apprentice could have handled this detail in almost no time, but the decision was made to conserve their strength. They had already been attacked once and might well be again before the sun set.

  Tealor had been wise enough to bring axes with them for just such an eventuality. Within minutes, each of the three trolls was buried beneath a heap of blazing wood. While their carcasses were burning to ash, the young sorceress turned her attention to the knight.

  “Does it hurt?” she asked, gazing at the young man's cut and bleeding face.

  “Yes,” he answered with a nod. “A lot, actually. I think that thing's claws were poisoned or something. It's burning like fire. So, you might want to hurry.”

  “Oh, right,” she replied. “Thanks for letting me handle it. Obviously, you could do it yourself, but I need the practice.”

  “I know,” he replied with as much of a smile as he could muster. “And I appreciate your help.”

  The maiden had the young Telian sit down in front of her and began to focus her thoughts. She filled her mind with the beauty of life, with thoughts of love, and with her desperate desire to ease the pain of the
young man before her. Nothing happened.

  “Anytime you're ready,” the knight said after a few seconds of silence.

  “Of course,” the young sorceress replied, “just give me a moment.”

  Again she tried and again she failed.

  “Seriously,” Darian said. “This is burning like fire. So, whenever you want to get started, that would be great.”

  “I can't do it,” she replied.

  “Yes, you can,” he said. “You've already done it. Just do what you did the last time.”

  “I'm trying,” Gwendolyn replied impatiently. “It's just not working.”

  “Well, should I do it?” the knight asked.

  “No!” she answered curtly. “You should give a minute!”

  “Alright,” he sighed, “but it's getting worse by the second. It feels like my hair's about to burst into flames.”

  “Very funny!”

  “No, it's not.”

  “Well then, be quiet and let me concentrate!”

  “Alright...”

  Once again, the young sorceress tried and failed. She simply couldn't heal him.

  “I can't do it!” she exclaimed. “I did it before! I'm doing the exact same thing I did last time. Why isn't it working?”

  “Don't let it upset you, child,” Sarena said, stepping over to the maiden's side. “You've learned a great deal over the past few days. It's quite a bit to take in. Your mind is simply overflowing at the moment. After a few days’ rest, you'll be able to do it again. I've gone through the same thing more than once.”

  “Have you?” the maiden asked with a touch of disappointment in her voice.

  “I have,” the sorceress assured her. “It's nothing to worry about. Right now, however, you may want to allow our bold Telian to heal himself.”

  “Alright,” she said, shaking her head. “Go ahead, Darian.”

  The young knight immediately asked the Eilian to heal him. His prayer was no sooner uttered than answered and, within moments, he sat before them once again whole.